In the course of this study series we will cover the content of the following outlined information, but not necessarily in this order. The series will explain the riches of “the mystery” gospel that was given to Paul for us today. This outline is a helpful synopsis of the key Scriptures that help one to understand Paul’s “mystery gospel” as the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose that was purposed in Christ Jesus.

That mystery gospel is the last or final gospel found in the Bible. Though Paul’s epistles are not the last books listed in the Canon of Scripture, they do present the “last or final” distinctive gospel to be included in the Bible. The books placed in the Bible before Paul’s 14 epistles pertain to prophecy concerning a literal earthly Kingdom promised to Abram’s (Abraham’s) seed, and those after Paul’s epistles, refer to those prophesies being fulfilled after Paul’s” dispensation of the grace of God,” ends with the rapture of “the church, which is His body.” The gospel proclaimed by Paul had been “kept secret since the world began” and was inserted between the prophecy and the fulfillment of prophesied Kingdom on earth.

The gospel preached by Paul was dispensed to Paul from heaven by Christ directly. It was inserted as new, non-prophetic, truth that had been hid in God. Therefore, it is new information; it’s a new gospel in the Bible that appears several years after Jesus’ ascension and Pentecost. Paul was given this gospel…for us today.

These nine points form God’s last gospel, which Paul called “my gospel” and “the mystery,” for the Gentiles.

1. This “Mystery” or Secret Gospel had been hid and “Kept Secret Since the World Began.”

+ Jesus obviously knew, but kept “the secret.”

John 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. John 16:13 … when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…John 16:15 …he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

+ The Apostle Paul says “the mystery” was “hidden” and “Kept Secret Since the World Began.”

Romans 16:25 …according to the revelation of the mystery (musterion, secret), which was kept secret since the world began,

1 Cor. 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden (apokrupto, concealed) wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

Col. 1:26a the mystery which hath been hid (apokrupto, kept concealed) from ages and from generations

2) The “Mystery” Gospel was revealed 1) at God’s appointed time, 2) to Paul, 3) for us Gentiles.

Ephes. 3:1-4, 11 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, ²If ye have heard of the dispensation (oikonomia, administration) of the grace of God which is given me to youward: ³How that by revelation he (Jesus Christ) made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, ⁴Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) …

¹¹According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ…

Galatians 1:15-16 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, ¹⁶ To reveal his Son in me (Paul), that I might preach him among the heathen (ethnos, the Gentiles); immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

3) Paul received this “mystery gospel” from the ascended Christ… as God’s “last” or “final Gospel.”

Acts 9:15 … he (Paul) is a chosen (ekloge, divinely selected) vessel unto me, to bear my name (onoma, authority) Colossians 1:25 Whereof I (Paul) am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil (Greek, pleroo, to complete or finalize) the word of God;

Gal 1:12 (Paul’s gospel) I neither received it (the mystery gospel) of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

4) Those Who Preach “Any Other Gospel” during the Dispensation of Grace of God are To Be Accursed (Banned). “Any other gospel” would include the “social gospel” that we so often hear preached today, as well as the Kingdom gospel that is not applicable in this day.

Gal 1:8-9 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we (Paul, Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, etc) have preached unto you, let him be accursed. ⁹As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed (anathema, banned).               

5) What Exactly Is This “Mystery (Secret) Gospel” according to Paul?

Col. 1:23 … be not moved away from the hope of the gospel... 25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of (from) God which is given to me for you… 26-28 Even (that is) the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints (believers): ²⁷To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of … this mystery among the Gentiles; which … is CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY: ²⁸Whom we preach…

6) Christ Now, as “the Spirit of Life,” Literally Indwells the Human Spirit of Every Believing Child of God.

Man’s human spirit - Zech. 12:1 … saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

Christ as “the Spirit” - 2 Cor. 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: …1 Cor. 15:45 … The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam (Christ) was made (became) a quickening (life-giving) spirit.

1 Jn 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 

1Cor. 6:17 …he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Jn 3:6b that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit

Rom 8:9-10 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

7) Paul here reveals “Why the Mystery Gospel Was Kept Secret?”

1 Cor. 2:7-8 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery (secret), even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: ⁸Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would NOT have crucified the Lord of glory.

Here “the princes of this world” refers to the world leaders who called for and authorized Jesus’ crucifixion. It was religion, by the Jewish High Priest, Caiaphas, who called for Jesus death; it was the politics of Rome’s authorities that authorized Jesus’ crucifixion. These leaders in the world system are the "princes" under the rulership of Satan who himself is “the prince of the power of the air.” Satan rules the world system under the air, the sphere we live in on this earth. Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye (Gentiles) walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Satan had not known “the mystery” that the crucified and resurrected “Spirit of Christ” would come to indwell each member of “the body of Christ” as well as those of believing Israel at "His coming;" that Jesus’ life would thereby become multiplied to “as many as received Him.”

If Satan had known “the mystery” he would not have crucified Jesus. Now in retrospect, I’m sure that Satan would rather have an uncrucified Jesus, physically walking the streets on earth, than have the crucified and resurrected “Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” multiplied by indwelling each and every believing child of God.

Now We See “WHY” The Mystery (Secret) Gospel Had To Be “Kept Secret Since The World Began?”

8) Christ Living In and Through the Members of “the Body of Christ,” is the Pauline Gospel for today, in “the dispensation of the grace of God.”

Gal 2:20-21 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of (from) the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Col 1:27b-28a Christ in you, the hope of glory: ²⁸Whom we preach… Col. 3:4 Christ, who is our life… Col. 2:9-10 For in him (Christ) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. ¹⁰ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

9) Now We Walk “In Christ Jesus,” subject to the Indwelling “Spirit of Life”

Rom 8:2 the law (the working) of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law (the working) of sin and death.

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Gal 5:18 if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Galatians 5:16 I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 5:25 If (Since) we live (have life) in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.